It has happened. Unbelievable, yes but it has happened. Indian team have lost a world cup game to Pakistan. I am still rubbing my eyes. Is it really true? Could India have lost a world cup game to Pakistan? The same Pakistan who for over 30 years found it impossible to defeat India in a world cup game? Well, it has to happen someday and it happened yesterday on 24 October 2021. This is India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup my view.
Here, I am going to stick with the Indian team and I am not going to dwell too much into Pakistan. The social media in India is completely angry. Lot of mean things have been called and it looks as though the Indian team lost the game on purpose. It is far from the truth. Pakistan played better on that day. It is plain and simple. I wonder why the social media warriors and the fans who are criticising the team does not have the guts to criticise the real elephant in the room? The BCCI?
BCCI and their greed
The Indian team lost the game not because of their performance but because of the greed of BCCI and its office bearers. That is the fact. The sooner media and other commentators realise this the better it will be for the team itself. Before someone criticise the team for losing the game, one must understand the stress and pressure that the team has undergone over the last 18 months. 2020 IPL, Australian tour, England series, one more IPL, WTC final and England tour, another IPL and now with 6 days of completing the IPL, the world cup. To make matters worse, the first game itself was a high pressure game.
Any game against Pakistan is stressful for not only the players but even for the spectators. Most of the Indian team members were and still are in a bio-bubble. The mental pressure from such situation is unfathomable. It is so tough to be under such a pressure that players of the calibre of Ben Stokes have temporarily left the game to recharge themselves. English board ensures that their players get adequate rest and are able to spend time with their families and away from all the spotlight.
Way too much workload before Covid
What has the BCCI done to help the players? Even before the Covid situation, the itinerary of the Indian team was unbelievable. They were constantly on the move. Hotel, practice, game day and back to hotel and practice and get ready for the next game in a day or two. Such was the schedule. It was insane. The attention of the entire country was always on the team. They were expected to win all the games. Ofcourse, it is not wrong but it only multiplies the pressure on the players. Their every move and every delivery is dissected. It is analysed and comment passed by people who would not have even lifted a bat in their lifetime.
Every fan in this country want the team to win against any opposition and in any situation. However, were the players given the means to succeed by the board? The answer is a big fat NO.
Instances of players learning the game at the international level is quite a lot. It was because when they are always involved in a series, they hardly get any time to rectify their faults. Most of the time, the players are left to fend for themselves. With the advent of the IPL the Indian players have never had a proper off-season for 15 years. All of these is because of an inefficient board whose only aim has always been to increase their revenue to astronomical proportions.
Too long inside the bubble
Now, Covid has added to that sorry state of affairs. Bio-secure bubble is added to the list of must haves. Having been under the bubble for more than 8 months straight, a month of high intensity IPL and coming into a high intensity and high pressure game against arch-rivals, the players simply did not have the energy and they were all very tired. It will not be a surprise if India goes out in the first round itself. On the otherhand, Pakistan were well rested. They were all fresh and with lots of energy. All of them had fresh legs and were able to hit the ground running.
Is there anything to be critical about?
If at all something must be criticised, there were 2 things. One, the inability of the bowlers to take a single wicket and two, the decision of the players to bend the knee. I really do not know what relevance Indian cricketers have on the lives of blacks.
One loss does not matter. India are by far in the easiest of the two groups. Win against New Zealand and we are through. Other teams are unlikely to challenge the Indian team. Once they reach the semi-finals, it can be anybody’s tournament. Afterall, it is a matter of good consecutive good evenings. Whatever happens in the tournament, I will not criticise the players. They are all too tired and too jaded. They have made the fans proud by winning in Australia and England. One good thing that arises out of this loss is that India are no longer under another unnecessary pressure to maintain the unbeaten record in world cups. Now they are free to play as they see fit.